Radiator construction



Sept. 20, 1949. M 2,482,595

RADIATOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 29, 1945 fi Z1. 21

mmvron 10011 BY I i adjacent fins.

Patented Sept. 20, 1949 UNITED has; ,1

STATES PAL-T'T OsF IF I E RADIATOR coNs'rRUo'rIoN Leroy H. Plum, Haddon Heights; .Nr l assignor to Warren Webster & Companygcamden, N. J.,' a. corporation of New Jersey Application December 29, 1945, Serial No. 638,089

3 Claims. (01. 257-2 21 an integrally formed flange for embracing the conduit to retain the plate-like portions in position, and also to act as spacing means between In the usual case, such flanges comprise metal which has been struck out of the apertures, and in forming the flange the sheet metal is somewhat rounded in cross section at the junction of the flange with the plate-like portion. Because of this rounded formation; a narrow annular space'or crevice occurs between the external surface of the conduit and the surrounding fin at the region of'the line of juncture between the flange and fin. The clearance space within such crevices ordinarily varies considerably because of slight variations in the size and shape of the conduit, particularly if the conduit is expanded to bring the flanged fins into embracing relation therewith. Also, the space within the crevices will vary becauseof the highly flexible nature ofv the flanged which may become distorted slightly while being slidinto place. Consequently, there will be a tendency for the outer annular. edge of the flange on the next adjacent fin to telescope into such crevice with the result that the fins will be irregularly spaced unless some stop means is provided. Also such telescoping may tend to expand portions of some of the fins which embrace the conduit and With constructhereby tendtoloosen the same. tions wherein the fins are secured to the conduits by expanding the conduits to cause the same'to be firmly embraced by the fin flanges, the above noted difficulties may become particularly serious; that is, before the conduit or tube is ex-' v panded, the loosely surrounding fin flanges will to thereby provide on each, a rim of greater diameter than the abovementioned annular crevice under'the next fin, such rim thus acting as stop means for maintaining the desired uniformspacing of the fins. Insome cases, however, such constructions have certain disadvantages in that it ma be difiicult .to form such rims uniformly and inexpensively since they have to be shaped or the metal which has been struck out of the fin apertures and greatly expanded. It is desira- V ble to use, for example, very thin sheet aluminum in forming the fins, which adds to the difllculties of forming such spacer rims with the ,necessary accuracy and rigidity at the outer .edgesjof the flanges. V I p According to the present invention the above noted difficulties are overcome by providing the stop means in the formof a plurality of detents at spaced points around each conduit aperture on the fin, these detents being struck into the space or crevice beneath the rounded line of juncture between the fin per se and its flange. At these points accurately formed and relatively rigid deitents may be easily provided since the metal at these points does not have to be expanded or appreciably stretched for the purpose. Also the stop means formed at this location are relatively more protected against being bent and distorted when the fins are being handled prior to application to the conduits. Furthermore, in

this type of construction the struck out detents may be so formed as to not reduce or interfere with the desired gripping areas of the fin flanges on the conduits. In fact such gripping areas may I trate merely by way of example, i of the invention.

be slightly increased by the detents, rather than 7 being diminished as with prior construction.

Various further and more specific objects-features and advantages will more clearly appear from the detailed descriptioni given below taken in connection withthe" accompanying drawings which'form a part of this specification and illuspreferred forms Inthe' drawings: 1, Figure 1 isa face view of one form of fin construction embodying the invention, showing the fin with'ltwo apertures and as applied to two heating fiui-d conduits;

Figure 2 is an edge view showing two of the fins as of Figure 1 applied to a conduit;- and tube.

Figures 3, 4 and 5, respectively, are enlarged detail sectional views showing conduits and portions of the fins thereon, formed according to three difierent embodiments of the invention.

The fin ID as shown in Figures 1 and 2 is formed with apertures as at H for heating fluid conduits I2, each aperture being accompanied by an integral flange I3. If desired one or more corrugations or like formations as at I4 may be provided around each aperture to increase the rigidity of the construction.

As shownimFigure .2, in the bending of the sheet metal to'fform flanges 13, a some-what rounded formation occurs as indicated at I5 along the line of uncture of the flange and fin. Consequently, a narrow annular space or crevice occurs as indicated at I6 around thersurface' of the conduit l2. In the absence of .an stop means, the outer edge as at I? ,onlthefiangeof the next adjacent fin may tend to telescope into this crevice as above explained. To prevent this, with the form of invention-shown in Figures 1-3. inclusive, a plurality of detents, for example, three or more as indicated at I8. may be struck out from the rounded portion of the metal,.pref- "erably into a position to contact "with the tube l2, andso that. the, ends of'pthe detents as at l9 will abut .the edge I! of the flange on "the next adjacent fin.

,W th the form 'of the invention indicated in Figured; detents as at 8 may be so struck out of the metal at the rounded portion, that theends of' the detents will abut the outside-surface" of the tube. IZythat is, these detents :extend radiallyof the conduit aperturaandside portions as atjZD thereof will engage the edge 1'! oftthe next adjacent fin.

the form of'the invent onshown in Figure'5 'detents as at'2l maybe struckfrom the. .Dounded, portion of the metal without cutting entirely through the metal. That as spaced ,points around. the aperture themetal maybe ,gindentedas. atiz'zso as to cause detents 'Zl to be struckintoa position extending along the surface .oi. the tube,..and the ,outer. ends of these detents wilLabut the. outer edgeasat 23 on the flan e .of

.. thehfixtadiacent fin. .Asshown .inFigure 5 the outer edgeportions-of. the .fin .flanges may, be

gradually taperedso .that the metal'will be. thinlner at these ortionsthanrat the .baseof .thefins.

- vflihe edge portions of the fins does. not needto .be as rigid as the base portions, and this. tapered con- .struction makes available the necessary .metal for thenseof-wider flanges if desired, for. wider spacingof the-fins, The, outer ends of thedetents yzimay be readilymade of a thickness to-substan- -.tially correspondwith the thicknessrof .the flange metal; at theedge 2.3; and accordinglythedetents :Hefiectively block the edgeZ-Zifrom entering the crevice :under the rounded portionindicated-by :thedotted line 214.,

The construction shown in Figures 1- 3, parfticularly .if the detents are relatively? rigid, has iathe advantagesthatsuch detents maytendto sup- -.plement:the grippingaction of the. fiangesonthe Also. the form shown- -in=tl1ese figures is such that the d-etents may be conveniently: struck out with accuracy by the usegof simple. forms of I dies.

The particular'form shown in: I has the during handling of the fins' bei ore they; are-applied to the tube. This advantage is also inherent in the form shown in Figure 5.

Although the invention has been more particularly described in reference to its use on radiator constructions adapted for heating purposes, it will be understood that the constructions herein claimed may be used for other forms of heat exchanging apparatus, including refrigeration or cooling apparatus.

While the invent on has been described in detail with respect to particular preferred examples, it will .be understood by thoseskilled intheart after understanding the invention that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cov.er:all;such changes and modifications.

. What is claimed .as new and desired to be secured-by Letters Patent is:

plate-iii. therewith as a substantiallycylindrical area of metal; surrounding the region of said aperture, the metal being somewhat rounded in cross-section at the junctureofsaid flange and plate-"like portionand stop means for preventing the flange on; an adjacent fin from tending to-enterthespace under such rounded portion, said stop means comprising' a plurality of detents extending at spaced points around the aperture into suchspace from, andbeingintegral-with, themetalat said rounded portion, all the parts constituting flexible thin sheet metal.

2. A radiating fin construction comprising a plate-like radiating portion'ad'apted to'bepositinned in a plane extending transverselyof a conduit for containing heat exchanging fluid-said portion' being formed with an aperturefor-recei'ving the ponduit passing therethrough, an annular "flangefor embracing the conduit andadapted to 'spacethe fin with respect to the next fin on the conduit, saidflange protruding to oneside of said plate like portion and being integrally formed therewith of metal surrounding the-region of said aperture, the. metalbeing somewhat rounded in cross-section at the juncture of said flange and plate-like portion whereby an annular crevice will occur .around the. conduit. at such juncture,

,.,and-stop..means ,for preventing portions on an adjacent. fin from tending to ,telescope into ,such -crevice,,. said -.stop means comprising a plurality otdeients extendingat spacedrpcints around said aperture, along. the conduit. surfaceatsuch crevice. in a. directionopposite ,fromsai'djflangeand as integral continuations thereof', al-l the. parts constituting flexible thin. sheet ,metal.

3. A mediating, ,fin construction comprising a plate-like radiating portion adapted, to .be positionedqina planeextending transversely of. a conduit. for containing heat exchanging fluid s'aid 'lfiportion-being formed with arr-aperture for receiving the.- conduit. pass ng therethroughian annular flangev for embracing .thecondu-it and-adapted-to space the fin with respect to the .nextfinonthe f saidzflange protrudingta one side of said plate-like portion, :and1being-;integrally :jionmed therewith of metal surrounding the region of said aperture, the metal being somewhat rounded in cross-section at the juncture of the flange and plate-like portion, and stop means for preventing the flange on an adjacent fin from tending to enter the space under such rounded portion, said stop means comprising a plurality of detents extending into such space from and being integral with the metal at said rounded portion at spaced points around the aperture, said detents being positioned substantially in the plane of said plate-like portion and being directed substantially radially of the aperture, all the parts constituting flexible thin sheet metal.

LEROY H. PLUM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,787,942 Kalle-ch, Jr. Jan.,6, 1931 1,983,549 Krackowizer Dec. 11, 1934 1,992,646 Young Feb. 26, 1935 2,201,024 Brown, Jr May 14, 1940 2,402,262 I Sewell June 18, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Austria Sept. 11, 1916 

